Overview
Epidemiology is the study of how diseases are distributed among different groups of people and the factors that affect this distribution. Accurately recording who in a defined population contracts a disease (the disease rate) also makes it possible to explore factors that might affect disease acquisition. Disease patterns are traditionally studied in relation to time, place and person. For example, Does the disease occur during particular seasons? Does it occur in certain geographical locations? Which are the more vulnerable age groups? Do those who become sick differ in their lifestyle habits from those who remain healthy? In this way, epidemiology tries to predict conditions (risk factors) that might lead to disease, and thus to identify strategies that might be used to prevent its occurrence. Moreover, once someone has contracted a disease, epidemiology can help identify prognostic factors, which indicate how quickly or severely the disease may progress. The natural history of diseases (how they develop and progress over time) is thus central to epidemiology. Since it is concerned with rates, epidemiology focuses on populations of people rather than single individuals.
Part 1 explores the approach of epidemiology to healthcare problems and the conceptualization of health and disease in epidemiology. Part 2 describes how epidemiological data are collected and analysed. This chapter concludes with a case study discussing how epidemiology studies public health issues such as obesity by analysing its distribution and seeking to explain its causes.
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Further Reading and Resources
Coggan, D., Barker, D. J., & Rose, G. (2003). Epidemiology for the Uninitiated (5th ed.). BMJ Publishing.
Provides succinct explanations for the novice of the major concepts and research designs used in epidemiology. A quick reference guide.
Moon, G., Gould, M., Brown, T., et al. (2000). Epidemiology: An Introduction. Open University Press.
Clear and readable introduction to the principles and methods of epidemiology.
Somerville, M., Kumaran, K., & Anderson, R. (2016) 2nd ed. Public Health and Epidemiology at a Glance. John Wiley & Sons.
Accessible introduction to the key concepts of population-level disease prevention, helping you appreciate the determinants of health that impact on healthcare services and their effectiveness.
Webb, P. M., & Bain, C. J. (2019). Essential Epidemiology. An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Clear, practical introduction to all areas of epidemiology.
Resources
Digital.nhs.uk is the national information centre for health and care.
Ons.gov.uk is the Office for National Statistics.
Fingertips.phe.org.uk is the Public Health England repository of indicators relating to health and wellbeing.
NICE provides current evidence on effective interventions and guidelines for management of health condition.
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Crichton, N., Mulhall, A. (2022). Epidemiology and Health. In: Naidoo, J., Wills, J. (eds) Health Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2149-9_3
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